By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
DANDENONG Market’s board and Greater Dandenong Council have declined to disclose the financial impact on the market of reported traders’ struggles.
Greater Dandenong chief executive John Bennie and the market’s board chairwoman Julie Busch last week refused to detail how many traders were in arrears or how much this cost the market.
Both said the figures were commercially confidential.
The council, which owns the market, had forecast a $1.9 million profit at the market for the 2012-13 financial year.
Mr Bennie, who refused to comment on whether the forecast would have to be downgraded, said the council took into account that rent arrears were a typical issue at any market.
“When we had direct control of the market, there wasn’t income coming from some traders in rent arrears. We need to be mindful of the fact that in some cases we will not be receiving rent arrears.”
As reported by the Journal, several struggling traders have told of owing the market up to five-figure sums in rent and were several months in arrears.
This month, the market and the council agreed to cancel September’s scheduled 4 per cent rent increase for traders, foregoing $100,000 income.
The market will also bring forward $100,000 from its 2013-14 marketing budget for an advertising push over the next two months.
Card-seller Scott Watson, who owes $4500 in arrears, had recently handed the board a petition signed by 85 traders calling for a 50 per cent rent reduction backdated to last July. The rent freeze wasn’t enough to make trading viable, he said.
“Their response is an insult. We’ve been asking for a rent reduction because we’re struggling on the current rent.
“I don’t know know if I can continue trading there. If they put pressure on me for the $4500 my house goes on the market. I don’t have a cent in the bank and no disposable income apart from my stall at Caribbean Gardens.”
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